Colorado Town Manager Gets Citation for Disturbing Cheney Roadblock

EAGLE, Colo. – Eagle's town manager was cited for disorderly conduct after he allegedly tried to go through a roadblock that had been set up for Vice President Dick Cheney's motorcade.

William Powell, who denied the allegations, was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and obstructing a peace officer for the June 15 incident, said Kim Andre, Eagle County Sheriff's spokeswoman.

According to a report from the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, a volunteer firefighter staffing the road block said Powell was swearing and waving his arms and tried to walk around him. The firefighter told deputies that he had to stop Powell several times and that Powell told him he had to get his son to Denver for a flight.

If found guilty, Powell could face a fine of up to $1,000 or one year in jail.

"My day in court will come when I can demonstrate that my conduct that evening was fully acceptable and those who made the allegations are wrong," Powell told the Vail Daily.

Cheney flew to the Eagle airport to attend the AEI World Forum conference in nearby Beaver Creek. The summit, which focuses on global issues, was founded by former President Gerald Ford and is attended by former and current government officials, scholars and business leaders from around the world.

The day after the incident in Eagle, agents in Beaver Creek detained and questioned another man who they said had approached Cheney and "wasn't acting like the other folks," said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren. The man, whose identity was not revealed, was later released.